Article by Jon Mannings @jonthfc
"What time does Super Sunday/Monday Night Football start, Dad?".
These are questions heard more and more regularly inside the homes of modern day Premier League football fans. They are also questions I detest. These particular questions fill me with dread for the following reason: To most children nowadays, watching Premier League football is nothing more than a TV program. It's something to fit around the schedule of Mum wanting to watch X Factor or your daughter wanting to watch Frozen for the umpteenth time. And my point is, Premier League football fans, especially young ones, are priced out of a game which is historically built around fathers taking sons to games to help to build the next generation of football fans.
Today, the average age of a season ticket holder at White Hart Lane is significantly higher than it was in 1972 when my Mum started going to Spurs; or indeed when I was born in 1985. In my mind there can be only one explanation for this - Money. Whether you're part of the 'I refuse to pay Category A prices' clan, or, like me, you form part of the 'I refuse to pay into the media circus which is Sky TV' brigade. I'm in a position where I can take my eldest son to football regularly, purely because it's my only vice. I don't smoke, drink or live a lavish lifestyle. However, after going to over half of all the home games in season 2015/16 I have spent a fair amount on tickets, travel, match day programmes, merchandise etc. So what about when my youngest son wants to come too? What if my daughter follows in my mum's footsteps and becomes an avid football fan? It then becomes unsustainable for me.
I have spent money on tickets ranging from £30 for us both (Qarabag, Anderlecht) to £73 (Manchester United) and various amounts in between, plus membership fees of course. It's not even about being able to afford it, it's about being able to justify it. I refuse to give any money to Sky and I only relented with regards to BT Sport because my wife managed to wrangle a decent package from them. The point I'm trying to make here is that it's cheaper for a parent to spend £100 a month on Sky/BT and never miss a game on TV than to spend that money on tickets. How many games will you be able to attend per month for £100? One, definitely. Two? Maybe.
I hate the fact that the match day journey, and the sheer joy of it, is becoming lost on young fans. How will they ever know about the escalator at Seven Sisters which has been making a loud squeaking noise for what feels like years? How about the wonderful gentleman from the Salvation Army that stands dignified in full regalia along Tottenham High Road? The smell of the burger vans along Park Lane, will they ever see how rusty the South Stand sign is? Will they ever know where gate 61 is? What about the other sights and sounds of a match day? The build up of anticipation as you make your way past Bruce Grove towards the Pride Of Tottenham. The sprinkling of away fans moving along with you, the banter, the togetherness, the pride and excitement you feel as you see the magnificent old stadium appear to your right?
I see it as my responsibility to the future of our great club as much as to my children that we should continue to make these sacrifices when it comes to tickets. I'm certainly not insinuating that I'm more of a fan than someone who attends games less often than me or an ex-pat who gets up at 3am to watch the game live in various corners of the world. I'm certainly not saying that I enjoy paying through the nose for tickets either. I'm just worried that once me and my generation become the eldest fans in the ground, who will be there with us? After us? Will we all eventually become too old to start renditions of 'Come on you Spurs' or 'We are Tottenham'? It genuinely scares me.
What started off an as attempt at an article is really turning into a plea. F**k Sky TV. F**k Jim White and his stupid yellow tie, say 'No' to Paul Merson, Jamie Redknapp and Phil Thompson. I'll make up my own mind thanks. I don't need any bitter ex-pros pointing out mistakes or 'moments of magic'. You know why? Because I was there. In my uncomfortable blue plastic seat in our decrepit, crumbling old ground.
I beg you all, please stop funding Jeff Stellings teeth whitening treatment and stop contributing towards Thierry Henry's alleged £4m a year salary. Make the pilgrimage to London N17 and experience the real thing!
Oh, and bring your children with you too.
© e-Media Group 2016 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
Today, the average age of a season ticket holder at White Hart Lane is significantly higher than it was in 1972 when my Mum started going to Spurs; or indeed when I was born in 1985. In my mind there can be only one explanation for this - Money. Whether you're part of the 'I refuse to pay Category A prices' clan, or, like me, you form part of the 'I refuse to pay into the media circus which is Sky TV' brigade. I'm in a position where I can take my eldest son to football regularly, purely because it's my only vice. I don't smoke, drink or live a lavish lifestyle. However, after going to over half of all the home games in season 2015/16 I have spent a fair amount on tickets, travel, match day programmes, merchandise etc. So what about when my youngest son wants to come too? What if my daughter follows in my mum's footsteps and becomes an avid football fan? It then becomes unsustainable for me.I have spent money on tickets ranging from £30 for us both (Qarabag, Anderlecht) to £73 (Manchester United) and various amounts in between, plus membership fees of course. It's not even about being able to afford it, it's about being able to justify it. I refuse to give any money to Sky and I only relented with regards to BT Sport because my wife managed to wrangle a decent package from them. The point I'm trying to make here is that it's cheaper for a parent to spend £100 a month on Sky/BT and never miss a game on TV than to spend that money on tickets. How many games will you be able to attend per month for £100? One, definitely. Two? Maybe.
I hate the fact that the match day journey, and the sheer joy of it, is becoming lost on young fans. How will they ever know about the escalator at Seven Sisters which has been making a loud squeaking noise for what feels like years? How about the wonderful gentleman from the Salvation Army that stands dignified in full regalia along Tottenham High Road? The smell of the burger vans along Park Lane, will they ever see how rusty the South Stand sign is? Will they ever know where gate 61 is? What about the other sights and sounds of a match day? The build up of anticipation as you make your way past Bruce Grove towards the Pride Of Tottenham. The sprinkling of away fans moving along with you, the banter, the togetherness, the pride and excitement you feel as you see the magnificent old stadium appear to your right?I see it as my responsibility to the future of our great club as much as to my children that we should continue to make these sacrifices when it comes to tickets. I'm certainly not insinuating that I'm more of a fan than someone who attends games less often than me or an ex-pat who gets up at 3am to watch the game live in various corners of the world. I'm certainly not saying that I enjoy paying through the nose for tickets either. I'm just worried that once me and my generation become the eldest fans in the ground, who will be there with us? After us? Will we all eventually become too old to start renditions of 'Come on you Spurs' or 'We are Tottenham'? It genuinely scares me.
What started off an as attempt at an article is really turning into a plea. F**k Sky TV. F**k Jim White and his stupid yellow tie, say 'No' to Paul Merson, Jamie Redknapp and Phil Thompson. I'll make up my own mind thanks. I don't need any bitter ex-pros pointing out mistakes or 'moments of magic'. You know why? Because I was there. In my uncomfortable blue plastic seat in our decrepit, crumbling old ground.I beg you all, please stop funding Jeff Stellings teeth whitening treatment and stop contributing towards Thierry Henry's alleged £4m a year salary. Make the pilgrimage to London N17 and experience the real thing!
Oh, and bring your children with you too.
© e-Media Group 2016 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
no sky sports is boss
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